Rhys Darby to play villain in new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

New Zealand comedian Rhys Darby has been announced as the voice of the super-villainous hippo in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series.

The trailer for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was debuted at Comic-Con over the weekend, where it was also revealed Darby would be a guest star.

The series sees Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey as they discover new powers and encounter a mystical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City.

Darby will voice Hypno-Potamus, a mutant magician/hippo.

Darby told Collider that as a kid he would rush home from school to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Rhys Darby will voice Hypno-Potamus, a mutant magician hippo. Photo / Nickelodeon

"I can't believe that little ole me is now part of the TMNT universe.

"Finally the magical Kiwi hippo gets his day in the sun. What a pleasure it is to play him on TMNT!

"I've been telling people that New Zealand has magical hippos for years, maybe now you'll all start taking me seriously!"

The series will see Raph voiced by Omar Miler, Leo voiced by Ben Schwartz, Donnie voiced by Josh Brener, Mikey voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith, April O'Neil voiced by Kat Graham, Splinter voiced by Eric Bauza and Baron Draxum voiced by John Cena.

The show will launch on Nickelodeon later this year.